The Director of the CIA discussed the situation in Afghanistan with the Pakistani army leader and director of the ISI.

ByShehryar Makhdoom | Published date:
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(Image credit: ISPR)

American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns met with Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt-Gen Faiz Hamid. They addressed the recent events in Afghanistan as well as the regional stability situation.

This is the CIA director's second trip to the region. Before the end of the administration of former Vice President Joe Biden, Burns had a closed-door meeting in Kabul with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who is the Taliban's co-founder and who holds a high-level position in the leadership.

The discussions covered peace in the region, Afghanistan's existing state of affairs, and shared interests.

During today's high-level conference, Pakistan reemphasized its dedication to working among its international allies for regional peace and a "stable and prosperous future for the Afghan people."

Pakistan's part in the Afghan matter, including successful evacuation operations and efforts for regional stability, was praised by the CIA chief, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

During the discussion, the U.S. official also promised to improve Pakistan's diplomatic cooperation on all levels.

Back in August, the chief of the Pakistan Army had stated that Pakistan intended to have a long-term and multidomain partnership with the U.s.

He commented after U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Angela Aggeler met with him at his headquarters in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan has demanded that the world set aside outdated perspectives and move with a "realistic and pragmatic" approach to Afghanistan. Many analysts perceive Islamabad's attempt to obtain global recognition for the Afghan Taliban's temporary administration.

After the Taliban declared a new government on Wednesday, with the Western nations blasting it for not including all political groups, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi put out a statement.

Foreign Minister Mukhdoom Shah Mahmood attended two important Afghanistan meetings. First, as a preliminary step, he arranged an online conference for the foreign ministers of Iran, China, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. Then, shortly after, his participation in another meeting was sponsored by the U.S. Secretary of State and the German Foreign Minister.

In both conferences, Qureshi's message was crystal clear:

the world needs to accept the new reality and develop its newfound understanding. Pakistan is focused on the consequences of the world's disengagement with Afghanistan, including an economic

eakdown and humanitarian disaster. Qureshi addressed the gathering in the U.S. and Germany and asked for the release of Afghanistan's frozen foreign funds.

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